The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-05-25
The TRAMP DETECTIVE,
by HENRY DALE.

Il say, Miss. can't We gin pore Teller q
bite to eat? I'm cen amost starved"
1t was ragged. dust covered tramp who
thus accosted Olivia Shortridge as she
stood with arms folded 10y the kitchen
table. The fellow had entered the door
and stood in the middle of the room before
she perceived him.
He was savage looking fellow, his un-
combed locks plainly to be seen beneath
his battered hat, and his rough beard SEEM
ingly wholly unacquainted with soap or
razor, while his eyes glared with hungry
ferocity.
Any other girl would have moaned at
sight Of the tramp, but Olivia was brave as
she was pretty and kind. Her large blue
eyes scanned the man for a moment, and
she perceived that he was really suffering
with hunger, whatever his faults might be.
The farm ut Cedar Crest was one Of the
finest in the country, and the great old
farmhouse was well supplied with food;
then why should she refuse this poor, suf-
fering man morsel.
II swar, Miss, amt had bite to eat to-
day" said the tramp, in tone half pa
thetc and half savage, with nothing of the
professional whine of beggar.
Gould you get nothing to eat?" size
asked, her blue eyes beaming more sympa-
thetic.
I, Il
Then il shall never be said that any one
was turned hungry from my fathers
house." said Olivia, and she quickly set
before the tramp provisions that were q
feast TO him.
He ate ravenousy, and the food had al
most entirely disappeared when he rose
from the table, and donned his dilapidated
hat which he had tucked under the table
before sitting down.
"Take what is left-you may need it be-
fore you get more, said Olivia.
God bless We. gal, said the tramp, as
he crammed the biscuit into his capacious
pockets. "Ye've got heart in We, which
wish all other people had, then they
wouldn't make SIGH devils out o us as they
do. I'm a bad man, j know it, but they
made me what am. Till the strike came
/ he'd work, but now I'm out on the road.
an dun know where next bites to come
from"
Having taken all the remaining provis-
ions that had been set before him, the
tramp left the house after once more thank
ing the farmers pretty daughter for her
kindness and generosity.
AS Olivia stood in the doorway, the rays
of the setting sun falling upon her golden
hair, and watched the tramp go down the
road. that individual turned about and
gazed once more at the pretty girl. Some
noble thoughts were in the heart of that
reckless vagabond, and, as he trudged on,
he muttered to himself:
people amt all bad-no use to say they
yar! 1 amt mistaken, nuther, when l say
that that gals angel.
His soliloquy was in an undertone, and
he was at too great distance from the girl
TO be heard by her.
II wonder what time father will come
ans1 tla rfrl CHI Ctn Cd
gazing down the great road.
"Oliyia," called her mother from another
apartment, who was in the kitchen a mo-
-ment ago?"
"A hungry man, mother.
"a tramp"
Yes, mother.
~Did you give him something to eat?"
"Of course, mother; | couldn't have any
eone 90 away hungry"
"That is right in the abstract. / reckin,
my child, but it pears TO me we have a
great many tramps comm around the coun-
try now"
Il wish father would come home," the
pretty girl sighed, in tone loud enough to
be heard by her mother.
ooh, he wont be back until late. Mr..
Long is going to pay off the mortgage ON
his place, and your father said it might be
late before he got back.
"That is the reason / am anxious about
father now," said Olivia to herself.
Father will bring the money home with
him to take to the bank mt Carthage to-
morrow, for there is no bank at the village,
and do not like having him travel about
the country with so much money-espe-
cially after night.
The catter of hoofs came from down
the road, and the eyes of the beautiful girl
frightened a young man, mounted on a
dark bay horse, galloped into view.
Its Harry. she cried. and fastened
around TO the front late Just as Harry drew
up.
There was an eager sparkle in the eyes
of the youthful horseman and pretty mai
den, which would convince any one at once
that they were lovers.
"Olivia, met the hardest looking tramp
q few moments ago." said Harry, as he
sprang from the saddle to talk moment to
his sweetheart at the gate, that 1 ever met
IN my life"
"He was here"
ale was? Did he not scare you almost
TO DEATH"
sob, no; i am not afraid of him. 1 gave
him his dinner"
"You did? Why the rascal might come
and burn the house down"
"He would be very ungrateful If he did.
Have you been to the village Harry"
"Yes."
Did You see father there?'
Yes; what is he doing?"